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Counter anti-India campaign, Modi to
NRIs
UP ex-Secy has assets worth crores
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Rahul targets Mulayam in maiden
speech
In Parliament
Left parties to support Patent Bill
CM draws flak for taking accused
along
Uproar in House over
sex scandal
Pak can’t give military aid to Nepal, says
Natwar
Mumbai ex-police chief appears in POTA
case
Pappu Yadav takes oath, returns to jail
Disabled body protests against ‘negative’ ad
11 held under
Sati Act
Visa on arrival for
Pak citizens
No new taxes proposed in WB Budget
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Counter anti-India campaign, Modi to
NRIs
Gandhinagar, March 21 “I have no grievance against the USA or the people of that country over the visa denial issue,” he said and went on to criticise those who rallied against his US tour. Modi asked NRIs to act as ambassadors to counter the propaganda being launched by certain motivated groups having vested interests in defaming India. Appealing to the NRIs to make India an “investment locale and global hot spot”, Modi, in his hour-long address from his residence through tele-conferencing, try to sell the concept of a “robust and developed” Gujarat. There was sufficient scope of investments in the state with several Special Economic Zones, apparel parks, marine biotechnology parks and pharmaceuticals and agro-product industries, he added. To a question on the visa denial issue from a participant in the USA, Modi said “I have no reaction. I believe only in action”. To a question after the tele-conference on a campaign in the UK regarding his proposed visit there, Modi told reporters “some individuals earn their bread in this manner”. Seeking investments in the education sector, Modi said the government had employed between 80,000 and 1,00,000 teachers and plans to use latest IT and satellite technology in the field. — PTI |
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UP ex-Secy has assets worth crores
New Delhi, March 21 The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the CBI conducted simultaneous raids in 16 places, seven in Lucknow, three in Delhi, four in Nainital and two in Bahraich, following registration of an FIR under Section 13(2) r/w 13(1) (E) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, agency sources said here. Mr Singh’s Gomti Nagar residence in Lucknow was among the places raided, the sources said. The accused officer has held various sensitive positions in the Government of Uttar Pradesh and also in the Central Government. The cash (Rs 3.65 lakh) was recovered from Singh’s Shantikunj Apartments in Southwest New Delhi. “He is disclosed to be having a large number of properties in his own name and in the names of his family members and others, apart from a benami fleet of vehicles,” a CBI press note said, adding “He is disclosed to have been leading an extravagant lifestyle and spent enormous sums on the education and marriage of his two daughters.” “He is also suspected to have stashed his ill-gotten earnings in overseas bank accounts and has made several private trips abroad,” it said. Among the major properties in the name of the accused officer, his family members and others mentioned in the FIR include: three houses in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow; commercial flat in Vasant Vihar, New Delhi; Agricultural land measuring 3.824 hectares in Bahraich district UP), a plot in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow; Floriculture farm house measuring 7.936 hectares on Sitapur Road, Lucknow; Farm house on 10 acres of leased land in UPSIDC Industrial Area, Uttaranchal; Farm house of 15 acres in Nisaula village, Uttaranchal; six acres land in Sangudi village (Uttaranchal) on which an international school and engineering college are under construction; 3.5 acre farm house in Ladphora village, Uttaranchal; Guest House in Nainital, Uttaranchal; Bungalow named ‘Corbett Lily House’, Nainital, Uttaranchal; a flat in Poorvi Apartments, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi and a Farm house behind Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, the press note said. Mr Singh had quit in 2003 after a controversy when a journalist filed a PIL in the Supreme Court in October, 2003, opposing the Mulayam Singh government’s decision to give him extension as Chief Secretary. Subsequently, the Apex Court had issued a notice to the government directing it to state the reasons behind the decision to grant him extension. |
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Rahul targets Mulayam in maiden
speech
New Delhi, March 21 Bespectacled Rahul read from a carefully-worded short speech, which drew applause from the UPA members as the House listened to the fourth generation member of the Nehru-Gandhi family, taking up the cause of poor sugarcane farmers, who have not been paid their dues, despite a Supreme Court order. Raising the issue during zero hour, the young MP from Amethi, who has been critical of the functioning of the UP Government, said the state authorities had told the apex court that private sugar mill owners did not owe anything to cane growers. He said as against this, the Cane Commissioner of the state had told a TV channel that arrears to the tune of Rs 517 crore in 2002-03 had not been paid to poor farmers. Rahul Gandhi wanted the state government to comply with the direction of the apex court on the payment of arrears. Earlier this month when Parliament was repeatedly adjourned after Opposition’s stalling its proceeding on the Goa and Jharkhand issue, Rahul along with ‘young Congress brigade’ had demonstrated in the Parliament House complex in front of Gandhi statue’s, denouncing the ‘disruption’ of the proceedings and had demanded an opportunity to speak in the House. |
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Pension Bill
Amid a walkout by members of the Left parties, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram today introduced a Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Bill, 2005. The bill seeks to replace an Ordinance, which was promulgated on December 29, 2004. The legislation, once passed, will empower PFRDA to perform promotional, developmental and regulatory functions relating to pension funds, including authorising and regulating intermediaries. It would also prescribe disclosure standards and have the power to impose penalties for any violation of the provision of the legislation. Members of the Left parties, however, opposed the introduction of the Bill. Basudeb Acharia of the CPM said the Bill would adversely affect the interest of employees and, while V. Radhakrishnan, also of the CPM, said that there was no urgency for the government to promulgate the Ordinance since the New Pension Scheme (NPS) was already in place. EPF hike
Former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha sought a statement from the government “on the delay” in notifying the hiked rate of interest on the Employees Provident Fund, saying it had left the EPF subscribers “confused”. Raising the issue through a special mention in the Rajya Sabha, Mr Sinha accused the Left parties of remaining “silent” on the “delay” in notification by the government. Mr Sinha said the one per cent hike would create an additional burden of Rs 927 crore and it was not known how the deficit would be bridged. Judicial accountability
The Centre said there was no proposal for legislation on judicial accountability and it did not have Constitutional authority to order inquiry into any complaints against judges of the Supreme Court and high courts. Law and Justice Minister H.R. Bhardwaj told the Rajya Sabha that attention of the government had been drawn t to the question of enforcing judicial accountability but there was no proposal to bring any legislation. In reply to another question, he said the Judges Inquiry Act, 1968 specified the procedure to deal with misconduct/ misdeameanour of Judges of the Supreme Court and high courts, but government had no Constitutional competence to order inquiry against them. Patents Bill
A discussion on the Patents (Amendment) Bill 2005 in the Lok Sabha today was deferred till tomorrow as several members, including those from the UPA allies, demanded time to examine the wider ramifications of the proposed legislation, particularly on prices of drugs and medicines. Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath, however, maintained that the legislation would not push up the prices of drugs and said the Bill was necessary to meet the WTO obligations. As soon as the House assembled after the lunch recess, Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani stood up and demanded that the Bill be referred to the Standing Committee and it could discuss the Bill and give recommendations at the earliest. |
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Left parties to support Patent Bill
New Delhi, March 21 Sources in the Left parties said that the government had acceded to 10 of the 12 suggestions made by them and had decided to give an assurance to one of the amendments and seek the view of the expert committee on issue of “definition of patent.” With the BJP-led NDA deciding to oppose the Bill, the government’s effort to win over the Left was a major achievement. Within hours after the discussion on the patent Bill was deferred to tomorrow, the government huddled into action and held discussion with the Left parties, whose support was crucial for the passing of the Bill if the NDA went ahead with the division. Union Defence Minister and Union Commerce Minister held discussions with the Left parties. |
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CM draws flak for taking accused
along
Hyderabad, March 21 Local Congress leader G. Bhanumati, one of the accused in the sensational killing of TDP MLA P. Ravi, received a red carpet welcome during Mr Reddy’s visit to the faction-ridden district on Sunday. Bhanumati wasrefused bail by a local court just a couple of days back, and the CBI, investigating into the political murder case, was expected to take her into custody anytime. Taking political circles by surprise, Bhanumati,wife of the prime suspect in the TDP leader’s murder G.Suri, shared platform with the Chief Minister duringhis mass contact programme ‘Rajiv Nagara Bata’. With a large number of followers raising slogans hailing her leadership, she went round Anantapur town in a large convoy of over 50 cars. She even shared the dais with the Chief Minister at a public meeting later. “How can the Chief Minister provide legitimacy to an accused in such a blatant manner? This is shameful,” TDLP deputy leader N Janardhan Reddy said. The TDP raised the issue in theAssembly today and sought to move an adjournment motion. Speaker K R Suresh Reddy disallowed the motion but said he would allow a separate discussion on the issue later. The Assembly witnessed uprorious scenes for over 15 minutes as opposition members stormed the podium and entered into an argument with the Speaker, prompting him to adjourn the House briefly. |
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Uproar in House over
sex scandal
Dehra Dun, March 21 Just before the session began, Rawat who was made to resign from the post of Cabinet minister in July, 2003, but was given a clean chit by the CBI last year, demanded that fresh probe should be ordered into what he said was a conspiracy against him. Causing major embarrassment to the government, Rawat said the turnout of events was a planned conspiracy against him which needed to be investigated. Rawat sought the setting up of a House committee to look into the matter in view of the woman’s latest statements alleging the party’s top leaders pressuring her into making allegations against Rawat. A few party MLAs, including former minister Kishore Upadhyaya and Ranjit Rawat, stood by Rawat and said his demands should be met. To make the situation bad to worse for the government, the Opposition, including the BJP and UKD (Uttarakhand Kranti Dal), also backed Rawat before asking the government to resign for failing to handle the divide. Leader of the Opposition Matbar Singh Kandari said the opposition supported the former minister. Heated arguments and uproar in the House followed before the Assembly had to be adjourned thrice the day. On being asked if he was trying to bring Chief Minister N.D. Tiwari in the loop of probe into the conspiracy, Harak Singh Rawat said he was not pointing at anyone but only demanding a fair probe into the matter
and action against the
conspirators. When he had resigned he had sought two-way probe into the matter about the allegations made against him, he said. Even as the CBI gave him a clean chit after the probe, the further probe into the conspiracy had still not been ordered, he said, adding that he was fighting for his lost honour and nothing else.
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Pak can’t give military aid to Nepal, says
Natwar
New Delhi, March 21 “You should disregard this (statement from the outgoing Ambassador of Pakistan in Nepal). This is not possible,” the Minister told the Lok Sabha this evening while replying to a 200-minute-long discussion under Rule 193 on the situation in Nepal and his last month’s visits to Afghanistan and Pakistan. On the Amritsar-Nankana bus service, the minister said: “I don’t say that 100 per cent it will happen. I am saying that this bus service is likely from Baisakhi. I am aware that Indo-Pak relations are accident-prone. We have to be cautious.” The Minister also commented that India-Pakistan relations were never so good in the past 58 years as they were at this point of time. Mr Natwar Singh’s categoric assurance on Nepal assumes significance as the statement of Pakistan’s outgoing envoy in Nepal tended to create an impression that Pakistan will move in to occupy the strategic space in Nepal seemingly vacated by India after its decision to suspend all military supplies to the Himalayan kingdom since the February 1 royal coup by King Gyanendra. Nepal, with which India shares a 1751-km-long open border, is considered India’s backyard and Pakistan getting into a close and strategic relationship with the Hindu kingdom would alter the strategic balance in the region. Mr Natwar Singh said the issue of military aid to Nepal was under “constant review”. He said India’s relationship with the Royal Nepal Army was “very very close”. He admitted that the situation had become very complicated after the emergence of Maoists in Nepal about a decade back. He also admitted that the spread of Maoist activities in Nepal had been considerable. Mr Natwar Singh said positive signals had started emanating from Nepal with regard to India’s concerns about restoration of multi-party democracy, release of all political prisoners and lifting of media censorship. “It is our hope that the democratic process in Nepal takes place sooner rather than later,” he remarked. He informed the House that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf was coming here on April 16 evening to watch an Indo-Pak cricket match the next day. On the LoC bus, Mr Natwar Singh sought to allay the fears of the nation and said all security considerations had been taken into account and work was underway to start the bus service from April 7. |
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Mumbai ex-police chief appears in POTA
case
Mumbai, March 21 Mr Mahesh Narain Singh appeared before the court after it issued a summons acting on the plea of accused Mohammad Afroze. However, he did not depose as the prosecution sought time and Designated Judge A. P. Bhangale adjourned the matter to March 28. Afroze, a young trainee pilot, was arrested on December 3, 2001 after the Mumbai police claimed to have stumbled upon evidence that he was part of Osama bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda. The police alleged that Afroze had planned to bomb the House of Commons in the UK, Parliament House in India, and Radio Towers in Australia. Subsequently, Mr Mahesh Narain Singh and senior police officials visited the UK to further investigate the matter. However, the case fell flat after the Scotland Yard picked holes in the case made by the Mumbai police and gave Afroze a clean chit. Later the Mumbai police dropped all charges against Afroze under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and filed cases against him under the Indian Penal Code. Afroze pleaded before the court that he wanted to examine Mr Mahesh Narain Singh on this aspect and the court then issued a summons to the former police chief. Afroze has also pleaded that former Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Chhagan Bhujbal be summoned before the court as a witness. |
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Pappu Yadav takes oath, returns to jail
New Delhi, March 21 Pappu Yadav, accused in a murder case of CPM leader Ajit Sarkar, presently lodged in Tihar Jail here, was administered oath by Speaker Somnath Chatterjee. Elected from Madhepura parliamentary constituency on the RJD ticket, he was earler lodged in Beur Jail in Patna and was shifted to Tihar Jail last month. On the direction of the court, Mr Pappu Yadav was brought to Parliament in police custody to enable him to take oath. During Zero Hour, he said charged the media of hounding him and his family and demanded an immediate halt to his “character assassination.” He said certain newspapers and TV channels were “impinging upon his personal interests” and “all kinds of things are being stated against a responsible person.” |
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Disabled body protests against ‘negative’ ad
New Delhi, March 21 In a representation to T.R. Balu, Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, the NCPEDP has demanded his urgent intervention in withdrawing the advertisement that can be damaging to psyche of millions of disabled persons in the country. In his letter, the NCPEDP Executive Director, Javed Abidi has said the wheel-chair as shown in the visual in the advertisement, is not “something obnoxious but a valuable and empowering tool for disabled people. The advertisement issued in public interest by the Department of Road Transport and Highways shows a wheel-chair. It reads, Drink, drive and this is what you may end up driving.” Mr Abidi has said the advertisement that appeared in some newspapers on March 11 has “a negative connotation.” He has also requested the media not to disseminate such negative messages. |
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11 held under
Sati Act
Jaipur, March 21 “Eleven persons have been arrested under the Sati Prevention Act and are lodged in the Raipur police station,” Pali Collector Kuldeep Ranka The accused have been booked under various sections of the Act, Ranka said. Besides these arrests, 31 persons, who indulged in a clash with the police, have been arrested, he said. The main accused Basanti Devi Vaishnav is a married woman, hailing from Ajmer district. She had come to Sumel with her husband who was also arrested; Ranka said quoting Basanti’s statement. Apparently Basanti got ‘emotional’ on her way to the temple and tied a ‘rakhi’ on her husband’s wrist before attempting self-immolation at the temple, he added. Nearly 100 years ago, a woman committed sati after her husband had died at the place where a white-coloured sati-temple exists today.
PTI |
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Visa on arrival for
Pak citizens
New Delhi, March 21 The decision was taken during the Foreign Secretary-level talks held in Islamabad in December last year, he added. To avail visa on arrival, applicants will have to carry valid passports, five copies of Visitors’ Visa application forms properly filled in, besides five passport size photographs, the spokesman said. The visa fee will be Pakistani Rs 15, payable in cash. The facility will be available on every Monday and Thursday between 10 a.m. and 15.30 p.m. —
UNI |
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No new taxes proposed in WB Budget
Kolkata, March 21 The Rs 40,383 crore Budget with a budgetary deficit of Rs 5 crore will provide 600,000 new jobs. Mr Dasgupta said he had no proposal for introducing contractual employment. Though the Budget did not include any new tax proposal, there would be re-structuring of sales tax and excise duties, which was bound to increase the prices of several commodities. He said the government would also introduce a service tax on certain items. The Finance Minister assured the House that the government would not enforce VAT on a large scale but only on selective items on an experimental basis during the next financial year it had already been decided to impose VAT on 550 items. |
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